Tritium removal device for lithium loop

Abstract

A tritium removal device for a lithium loop contains a neutron source ( 1 ) for colliding protons on a lithium flow, thereby generating neutrons, a lithium tank ( 11 ) for the lithium passing through this neutron source ( 1 ) to flow thereto through a flow passage ( 9 ), thereby temporarily accumulating it therein, and a lithium pump ( 17 ) for circulating and supplying the lithium of this lithium tank ( 11 ) to the neutron source ( 1 ) through a supply-side flow passage ( 9 ′). The lithium tank ( 11 ) and the lithium pump ( 17 ), into which hydrogen gas containing tritium therein can be easily collected, are enclosed within a hermetically sealed container ( 7 ) including an inactive gas therein, so that even if the hydrogen gas including the tritium therein is leaked into the hermetically sealed container ( 7 ), it is removed by a hydrogen isotope removal filter.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A tritium removal device comprising a lithium loop, the lithium loop comprising a neutron source for generating neutrons through the collision of proton rays with flowing lithium, a lithium tank for storing lithium therein, a first flow passage for transporting lithium from the neutron source to the lithium tank, a second flow passage, a lithium pump for transporting lithium from the lithium tank to the neutron source through the second flow passage and a hermetically sealed container enclosing the lithium tank and lithium pump therein, and the tritium removal device further comprising an argon supply tank for supplying argon gas to the hermetically sealed container, a used argon tank for receiving argon gas from the hermetically sealed container and a hydrogen isotope removal filter for removing tritium-containing hydrogen gas from the argon gas being received in the used argon tank. 
     
     
       2. The tritium removal device of  claim 1 , additionally comprising a quadrupole mass spectrometer for measuring the partial pressure of the tritium in the argon gas passing through the hydrogen isotope removal filter and a blower for diluting the argon gas passing through the hydrogen isotope removal filter with air so that the measured partial pressure of tritium is at or lower than a reference value. 
     
     
       3. The tritium removal device of  claim 1 , additionally comprising a quadrupole mass spectrometer for measuring the partial pressure of tritium in argon gas discharged from the used argon tank and a blower for diluting the argon gas discharged from the used argon tank with air so that the measured partial pressure of tritium is at or lower than a reference value. 
     
     
       4. The tritium removal device of  claim 2 , additionally comprising a tritium monitor for monitoring the concentration of tritium in the diluted argon gas. 
     
     
       5. The tritium removal device of  claim 1 , additionally comprising a quench surface defining a boundary between a gaseous phase of a neutron source side and a liquid phase of a lithium tank side in the first flow passage. 
     
     
       6. The tritium removal device of  claim 5 , wherein the position of the quench surface in the first flow passage is held through the pressure of the lithium tank. 
     
     
       7. The tritium removal device of  claim 1 , additionally comprising level gauges for monitoring lithium in the first and second flow passages at positions where the flow passages penetrate through a wall of the hermetically sealed container.